101 tips for graduates

Uploaded by:
Ebooks Chemical Engineering
/>
For More Books, softwares & tutorials Related to Chemical Engineering
Join Us
@facebook: />@facebook: />@facebook: />
ADMIN:
I.W


101
TIPS FOR

Graduates
R e v i sed Ed i t i o n

A Code of Conduct for
Success and Happiness in
Your Professional Life

Susan Morem


101 Tips for Graduates: A Code of Conduct for Success and Happiness in
Your Professional Life, Revised Edition
Copyright © 2010, 2005 by Susan Morem
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information contact:

Ferguson
An imprint of Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street
New York NY 10001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Morem, Susan.
101 tips for graduates a code of conduct for success and happiness in your professional life
/ Susan Morem. — Rev. ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-8225-4 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8160-8225-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN: 978-1-4381-3151-1 (e-book) 1. Success in business. 2. Performance. 3. Employees—
Attitudes. 4. Self-management (Psychology) 5. College graduates--Life skills guides. 6. Young
adults—Life skills guides. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred one tips for graduates. III. Title: One
hundred and one tips for graduates.
HF5386.M754 2010
650.1—dc22
2009038100
Ferguson books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for
businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales
Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755.
You can find Ferguson on the World Wide Web at
Text design and composition by Mary Susan Ryan-Flynn
Cover printed by Art Print Company, Taylor, PA
Book printed and bound by Maple Press, York, PA
Date printed: February, 2010
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book is printed on acid-free paper.


Table

of

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
WORK SKILLS
Find a Job and Achieve Career Success
1. It’s no longer about the grades you make; .
it’s whether or not you make the grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Your first job is finding a job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3. Add a dose of realism to your optimism; .
know the realities of a job search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4. Practice makes perfect; rehearse .
before you interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5. Get in the driver’s seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6. Your resume will not get you hired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7. Maximize your job search and your time online . . . . . 20
8. Go to work every day as if it were .
the first day of your job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
9. If you are looking, but not finding a job, .
consider other options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
10. There’s nothing more disruptive than .
being interrupted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
11. Your employer is watching you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

12. You are a product; market yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
13. You're never too old for an internship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
14. Do it now, not later; don’t become a procrastinator . . . . 42
15. Make yourself memorable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
16. There is life after a layoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47


COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Communicate Effectively Through Your Image,
Listening, Speaking, and Writing
17. Your image speaks volumes about you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
18. Turn off your cell phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
19. Give yourself a voice over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
20. Manage your image on the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
21. Watch your tone when you’re on the phone . . . . . . . . . 62
22. Apologize; you can’t always be right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
23. Proofread every document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
24. Emailmatters@work; don’t leave a trail of bad e-mail . . 70
25. Say what you mean and mean what you say . . . . . . . . . 74
26. Power up your presentation skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
27. Please and thank you are powerful words . . . . . . . . . . . 78
28. Expand your vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
29. Master the art of SMALL TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
30. Act confidently—even when you're not; .
pay attention to your body language . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
31. Listen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Become a Leader
32. Play to win the game of office politics . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
33. Bring out the best in others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

34. Under-promise and over-deliver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
35. Lead by example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
36. Be a lifelong learner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
37. You don’t get what you want; .
you get what you ask for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
38. Don't compare yourself to others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
39. Everything takes time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
40. Be yourself; you are enough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
41. Pay attention to the proven practices .
of successful people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
42. Create and maintain a career portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
43. Put together your own personal advisory board . . . . . . 111


44. Dress for the position you want . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
45. Get involved in life; work hard, and play hard too . . . 114
46. Put people first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
SOCIAL SKILLS
Maintain Good Relationships and Work
Cooperatively with Others
47. Use social networking tools to stay connected . . . . . . . 119
48. First impressions create lasting impressions . . . . . . . . . . 122
49. Take responsibility for yourself and your relationships . . . 124
50. Network, network, network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
51. Show up for events; your presence matters . . . . . . . . . 129
52. Just say “no” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
53. Know the difference between an .
online and off-line friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
54. The company party is not a party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
55. Always have a business card with you . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

56. Guard your shadow; it follows you wherever you go . . . 139
57. Stop talking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
58. Mind your manners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . å°“. . . . . . . . . 144
59. Balance screen time with face time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
60. Look for similarities, not differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
61. Show your appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
SELF-DISCIPLINE
Be Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise
62. Control your spending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63. Reduce your anxiety with technology . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64. Be your own best friend; .
set aside time for yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65. Get in shape and stay in shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66. Neatness counts; .
get organized and stay organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67. No more excuses; deal with problems . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68. Freshen up! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69. Plan your day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

153
156
159
161
165
167
169
171


70. Smoke and booze; you lose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

71. Learn how to de-stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
72. Turn off the lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
73. Trust your instincts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
74. Get a tetanus shot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
75. If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it . . . . 186
DEMONSTRATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Make Your Life a Little Easier
76. Your attitude is your choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
77. Make someone’s day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
78. Consider yourself fortunate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
79. Look on the bright side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
80. Enjoy the ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
81. Life is not a game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
82. Don’t take rejection personally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
83. Respond; don’t overreact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
84. Learn to laugh at yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
85. Change is inevitable; misery is optional . . . . . . . . . . 208
86. Sometimes you have to let go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
87. Put on a happy face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
88. Learn to give and receive compliments . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
89. Be a cheerleader for yourself and others . . . . . . . . . . . 215
90. Avoid toxic people and environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
AREAS OF DISTINCTION
Rise Above the Ordinary and
Live an Extraordinary Life
91. Volunteer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
92. Make a difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
93. Cross the finish line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
94. Follow your heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
95. Love the work you do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

96. Believe in yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
97. It's not what you earn, .
it's what you do with your earnings that count . . . . . . 232


98. Be a successful student of your own failure . . . . . . . . . 236
99. You can make it through challenging economic times . . 238
100. There's no business like your own business . . . . . . . . 240
101. Never give up on your dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
APPENDIX: EXTRA CREDIT BONUS INSIGHTS . . . . . . 246
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266


Acknowledgments
This book is the result of the contributions made by many people.
To those of you who responded to my request for input, thank
you for taking the time to respond and for sharing your personal
stories and sage advice. Your contribution is appreciated more
than you know. This book was written for and is dedicated to
anyone who is transitioning from one stage of life to another, to
all past, present, and future graduates, and to my three daughters
who inspired me to write it.


Introduction
I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with hundreds
of high school and college students over the last few years, and
every time I do, I am inspired. I have three daughters of my own
and I’ve seen firsthand how competitive their world has become.
Students must work hard to achieve academic success. They face

fierce competition both in gaining admission into the college of
their choice and in finding a job in their chosen profession.
Today, high school and college students live in a time of rapid
change and enormous advancement. It is not uncommon for
young adults to own a personal computer, automobile, television,
cell phone, iPod, unlimited articles of clothing, and too many
downloaded songs to count. Most have had more disposable
income than generations before, and although they enjoy many
privileges, they also face some of life’s darkest moments and
harshest realities.
When I received a tearful call from my daughter, who was just
two months away from graduating college, I was alarmed. She
was convinced there were no jobs available and that she would
not be able to work after graduation as she had planned. One of
her professors had emphasized in class that day how awful it was
“out there”—that it has never been so bad as it is today.
As a mother, I wanted to console my daughter. As someone
who has made a career out of helping people find work and succeed, I tried to understand this professor’s motive and felt compelled to speak out. I am well aware of the business climate and
the challenges that grads and others are experiencing, however, I
see no point in creating a feeling of hopelessness and fear, especially in our young adults just starting out. There are jobs to be
found—one must dig a little deeper and become more resourceful
xi


xii    101 Tips for Graduates

to find them. It may take a little longer to get a career on track
today, but even in difficult times, new opportunities will surface.
When I wrote the first edition of 101 Tips for Graduates, there
were endless possibilities for new grads and few worried about a

successful career in their chosen profession. Today, finding—and
keeping—a job is a major concern for most. They are graduating
at a time when unemployment is on the rise: Some have seen
parents lose jobs and homes; others have friends and relatives out
of work for extended periods of time.
Realizing that the first edition of this book was not fully
addressing the needs of grads today, I knew I needed to update it,
and I set out to find the most pressing issues to address. Since the
first edition was released, technology has dramatically changed
both the way we find jobs and connect with others; therefore,
technology is much more prevalent in this edition. Other new tips
adddress employers’ expectations and playing to win the game of
office politics. Also covered is the value of internships and how to
find one; dealing with job loss, and managing money, a big challenge for most. In addition there are tips on creative ways to find
work, stay employed in a slugglish economy and what it takes to
succeed as an entreprenuer.
This (revised) edition reflects the new realities grads face and
many other changes that have taken place over the last few years.
While some of the tips remain the same, over 20 new tips have
been written and many more updated and enhanced. Although
I’ve addressed many of the grim realities grads may face, the hopeful tone for a bright future remains the same. Every generation
has its struggles and this one is no exception. We complained
when we felt they had too much too easily; now they, too, will pay
their dues. It’s time for this generation of new grads to step up and
demonstrate their skills, abilities, and character.
I remain motivated by young adults because they are still motivated. I see possibilities for them because they see possibilities. I


Introduction    xiii

am optimistic about their future because they are optimistic, at
least for now—at the start of their careers. Unfortunately, as
time passes, I’ve seen too many people replace optimism with
pessimism and either limit or give up on themselves. That is
why I feel so strongly about the need to reach out to them at
this pivotal time in their lives.
I don’t ever want my daughters to give up on their dreams, and
I don’t want the bright and talented young adults who have
inspired me to lose their inspiration. In an attempt to prevent
new graduates from becoming a future generation of grumpy old
men and women who age with regret, I want to do what I can to
help prepare them for what lies ahead. When I immersed myself
in a quest to find out how prepared young adults are to enter the
real world after graduation, I discovered that high school and
college graduates are more equipped to live and succeed on their
own than their predecessors were as little as a decade ago.
Graduates today know they must excel, and most expect to do
well. However, I also found that many young adults have unrealistic expectations and are unprepared for what lies ahead.
The number of young adults pursing higher education is on
the rise, and many students participate in meaningful internships or related work experience prior to graduation. While
this is encouraging, a clear understanding of the dynamics of
corporate life seems to be missing from most students’ knowledge, according to Rock Anderson, Director of Recruiting
Services and Diversity for Siemens Corporation. This includes
understanding the politics of corporate life and the importance
of seeking and gaining mentorship.
Parents are focused on managing their own busy lives, school
counselors and teachers are working at maximum capacity, and
employers haven’t the time to train the recent graduate in need
of continuing education. Through her work with employers
and teens, Renee Ward, founder of Teens4hire.org, has found

xiv    101 Tips for Graduates

that the majority of young adults have very little knowledge about
the basic rules of the workplace. When high school students were
asked how many times it is acceptable to be late for work before
it becomes a problem for an employer, the majority said eight or
nine times. When asked if it is appropriate to leave the workplace
without asking to handle a personal emergency, most said yes.
In the real world, arriving late for work is never acceptable, nor
is leaving unannounced, despite the reason.
After graduation, students are expected to become responsible
young adults who move smoothly into their work and home communities, but many still feel and act like children. They may have
advanced degrees, a fancy resume, and answers to tough interview questions, but some lack the confidence to look an interviewer in the eye or the common sense to turn off their cell phone
during a meeting.
Life as an adult is much different from life as a student. In
school, if you do enough to get by, you’ll pass. The more you
study and the harder you work, the better the grade you’ll receive.
Although standards for graduation have changed over the years,
the objective has remained the same: to meet or exceed the minimum requirements to receive a passing grade.
From kindergarten to graduation, academic and personal success is measured by a report card. In elementary school, equal
emphasis is placed on the skills we learn and the way we behave.
As we progress, we are expected to understand the code of conduct and behave appropriately. Once the conduct portion of the
report card is removed, we are graded solely on our knowledge.
Students gain merit solely through their academic achievements.
After years of grading, ranking, and assessing, report cards disappear. Recent graduates, who for the most part have identified themselves through their academic success, are thrust into the mainstream, receiving little or no feedback along the way. At some point,
the question, “How am I doing?” requires an answer.

Introduction    xv

Paychecks and pay raises replace report cards and become
the only tangible measure of success. However, neither guarantees the personal satisfaction of a job well done or a balanced
and meaningful life.
Graduates rightly assume that more lies ahead for them than
working and collecting a paycheck, but when dreams begin to
fade and goals seem unattainable, no degree can provide the
solution. Grade point average and class rank do not guarantee
a life of health, wealth, or successful relationships.
The more complex life becomes, the more difficult it is to
evaluate our progress. When faced with mounting responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important. If we thrive in
our careers, we consider ourselves successful. Money and
power can be addicting. The praise and respect we receive
through our achievements sustain us and provide the personal
acknowledgement we crave.
Once we’ve made the grade, we persevere; we focus on our
work while neglecting ourselves and our relationships. It
may take years to realize the impact of our neglect, and by
the time we do, it may be too late to change the damage that’s
been done.
School report cards may vanish, but the grading continues;
we are evaluated throughout our entire lives. The grading system
becomes more complex, and we often lack the information we
need to do well.
In the real world, we are graded on our skills: work skills,
communication skills, leadership skills, and social skills. We
also are graded on our behavior: We’re expected to practice selfdiscipline, work well with others, and have a positive attitude.
There are many unspoken expectations in life, and they
come in the form of an unwritten code of conduct. The astute

catch on by observing, while others quickly fall behind.
Meeting the minimum requirements of this code may be


xvi    101 Tips for Graduates

enough for some, but for those who seek an extraordinary life,
doing enough to get by simply isn’t enough.
Earning a degree is an accomplishment, and one to be proud
of, but it does not prepare anyone for all that lies ahead, nor
does it increase the odds of living a successful, meaningful, or
happy life.
Every family, every home, every school, and every community
has a code of conduct. As graduates move away from their roots
and become members of the real world, they are presented with a
new code: the code of conduct for life.
Everyone is expected to abide by this code, and anyone can follow it. Those who do will have an advantage, and those who do
not will suffer the consequences. Until now, this code has only
been implied. Now that it’s expressed, you can keep it and refer to
it anytime you need to.
There are seven sections in this book. Each section represents
a different set of skills to master. While some people might
emphasize the significance of one section over another, each section and every tip is of equal importance.
The 101 tips in this book came from an initial list of over
200 tips. To make sure I selected the most important tips, I
solicited input from people of all walks of life, and they enthusiastically responded.
My request for advice for new graduates struck a chord with
people who have genuine concerns about young adults and their
ability to make it on their own. Many were happy to share their
own tips, words of wisdom, and lessons learned.

I received responses from business executives, entrepreneurs,
and employees from a variety of industries. Ideas were sent in
from stay-at-home parents, teachers, writers, lawyers, doctors,
musicians, and young adults themselves. Responses came from
near and far and from all parts of the world. I am deeply touched
by the number of people who took time to reply to my request.


Introduction    xvii

Their responses were thoughtful, insightful, and candid. You
will find portions of some of the comments I received in a special quotes section in the back of this book.
You can use this book in a variety of ways. Read it from
cover to cover, or start reading the section, or tip, that interests
you most. It’s your book and your life. After reading each tip in
its entirety, you can reinforce the concept by glancing through
the tip titles.
This book is written for graduates starting out in life, but it
serves as a valuable tool for anyone. Some books are meant to
be read and enjoyed; others are intended to be read and applied.
This book is a little of both. I hope you enjoy what you read
and that you live your life differently as a result. My life changed
from writing this book, and I know yours can change from
reading it.
—Susan Morem
If you have a tip, a personal story to share, or advice you’d like to pass along
to be included in a future edition of this book, please send your tips to:

Work Skills
Find a Job and Achieve Career Success

Tip # 1
It’s no longer about the grades you make;
it’s whether or not you make the grade.
Congratulations graduate! The time has come for you to say goodbye to your life as a student and hello to your life as an adult. As
an adult, you don’t have teachers to answer to, tests to study for,
or grades to make. Your year isn’t divided into quarters or semesters, and, unless you go back to school, you don’t have to look at
a report card ever again.
Welcome to the real world! In the real world, you’ll find that
success isn’t measured with an A or a B; success is about learning,
then living, your new ABCs.

Real world ABCs: Your code of conduct for life.

A
B

is for Adult. You’re an adult now for the rest of your life.
As an adult, people expect you to look, act, and dress professionally and appropriately. It does matter what people
think of you now. Maintaining your individuality is great—
and encouraged. But a certain amount of conformity and
maturity in appearance and behavior is expected.

is for Better.

Be better than you need to be. You are a
work in progress—become a student of life. Be someone
for whom good isn’t good enough. Look for new ways of

doing things, and don’t be afraid of change. Strive to
improve yourself professionally and personally every
single day.
1


2╇╇ 101 Tips for Graduates

C

is for Control. Take control of your life; don’t let life control you. Decide what you want. Don’t be wishy-washy.
Life is not a dress rehearsal; every decision you make will
either move you toward your goals or push you away from
them. Make good decisions. As comedian Tim Allen once
said, “If you don’t make decisions in life, life will make
decisions for you.”

D
E
F

is for Dream. Dare to dream. Dare to dream the impossible
dream. If you dream it, you can create it; it depends on
what you’re willing to do. Don’t listen to people who try to
destroy your dreams. Most likely, someone tried to spoil
theirs and probably succeeded. If you don’t think dreams
are possible, ask anyone whose impossible dreams came
true. They’ll tell you dreams really do come true.

is for Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm matters a great deal.

Enthusiasm is contagious. Infect the people you work
with; create a more pleasurable, meaningful work environment. If you aren’t enthusiastic about what you’re
doing, consider doing something else. Life is too short to
curb your enthusiasm.
is for Failure. When you fail in school, you are held back;
when you fail in life, you are set back. Failure is temporary
and is nothing to be embarrassed about. Some of the greatest victories are a result of the worst defeats. Everyone
faces personal struggles, failures, and moments of truth. Be
a student of your own failure. There’s no shame in failing;
the shame is in not trying.
is for Give. Be known as a giver, not a taker. Make a difference in someone’s life; pay a compliment, do something
nice, and volunteer. When you give to simply give, with no
strings attached, you always end up getting more back. Try
it and see for yourself.


Work Skills╇╇ 3

H
I
J

is for Happy. If you can wake up every day and be happy
with yourself, your relationships, and your job, you are
living life at its best. I know it isn’t easy; there’s always
something to gripe about or problems that get in the way.
Abraham Lincoln once said most people are about as
happy as they make their minds up to be. Don’t complain; forget about your problems. Make your mind up to
be happy.

is for Invest. Invest in your future now. Just because you’re
making money doesn’t mean you have to spend it all.
Learn from the millions of people who wish they had
invested their money rather than thrown it away. Don’t
spend more than you earn; spend less. Stay out of debt and
invest in yourself.
is for Joyfulness. Find joy and meaning in everything you
do. Find joy making others joyful; make your day by making someone else’s day. Call the store clerk, the driver, or
the receptionist by name, and ask about his or her day.
Then watch the response you receive. Reach out to others
and make a personal connection; then feel and see joyfulness at its best.

K
L

is for Knowledge. You may be done with your formal education, but some of your best lessons are yet to be learned.
Become a lifelong learner; be a student of life. I heard this
saying years ago: The more you know, the more you know you
don’t know. The older I get, the more I understand it. Know
that you don’t yet know all you need to know. Seek knowledge and learn something new every chance you get.

is for Listen. There is a reason we all have two ears and
only one mouth. Use yours proportionately. Listening is
more than hearing. You are responsible for getting what
someone’s telling you, so listen carefully.


4╇╇ 101 Tips for Graduates

M

N
O
P

is for Mistake. Make mistakes; make lots of new mistakes.
It’s the best way for you to learn. Don’t be afraid—everyone
makes mistakes. Let your mistakes get you down. Take
some time to grieve over, not gloss over, what you learned
from your mistake. Then get back up, and strive to never
repeat the same mistake.
is for No. Know how to say no. Say no to overindulgence,
say no to risky behavior, say no to your bad habits, and say
no to the toxic people you meet. Know when and how to
say no and mean it.
is for Opportunity. Opportunity sometimes knocks very
quietly. If you listen, you will hear when opportunity
knocks at your door. Pay attention to everything you see
and hear. Take risks, seize opportunities, and create your
own good fortune.
is for Patience. Like Rome, your career won’t be built in a
day. Everyone starts somewhere, and everything takes
time. Although it may be difficult to understand now, you
really will enjoy and appreciate what you have much more
if you have to work for it and toward it. Patience really is
a virtue. Be patient. The best is yet to come.

Q

is for Quality. Put a stamp of quality on everything you do.
Seek quality relationships, buy quality clothes, eat quality

food, get a quality job, be a quality person, turn in quality
work, and think quality thoughts. Remember, it’s not
quantity you want; it’s quality. Live a quality life.

R

is for Reputation. Your permanent record, for the rest of
your life, begins now. Think about what kind of person
you want to be known as in your personal and professional
life. A gossip? A backbiter? Someone who will step on
others to get where he or she wants to be? Think of your
reputation as your little shadow, because it will follow you


Work Skills╇╇ 5

wherever you go. Take care to cultivate a reputation that
you can live with for the rest of your life.

S

is for Success. Success isn’t measured by the title you
have, the money you make, or the value of your possessions. Success is what you make of your life. If you compare yourself to others, you will always fall short. Compare
yourself to your goals and desires; you have everything
you need to succeed.

T

is for Thankful. Be thankful; appreciate the opportunity to
work, and do your best, regardless of the position. No job

is beneath you. Any job that’s legal is honorable and probably pays you more in a month than people in many parts
of the world make in a year. Be thankful for your health,
your family, and all the goodness you see every day.

U
V

is for Understanding people. Understand that people
matter; all people. Always remember the people who
helped you. Always try to help others. Treat everyone
with respect, regardless of status or position. As you
mature, you will come to realize that it’s not who you
know but who you are.

is for Values. Identify your values; know what’s important
to you in life, and never compromise the things you value
most. Take a stand for what you believe. If you stand for
nothing, you’ll fall for everything.

W
X

is for Willing. Be willing to stay late, come in early, skip
going out for lunch, or whatever it takes to get the job
done well and on time. Most important, be willing to
start at the bottom and work your way up; everyone has
to start somewhere.

is for “X”traordinary. Some things happen for no reason
at all, with no warning and no explanation. You can think

6╇╇ 101 Tips for Graduates

you’ve got the world in the palm of your hand, but when
something unexpected happens, you learn you do not.
Never become so smug that you think you’re infallible.
You are not. Live your life and go for your dreams, but
never take your health, your family, your country, your
job, or anything for granted.

Y
Z

is for You. You are enough. Don’t focus on those who have
more than you; help out those who have less. Don’t feel bad
for what you don’t get to do; be glad for what you get. Don’t
live your life regretfully; envision a bright future ahead.
is for Zoom. Get ready, get set… zoom! Enjoy the ride of
your life. There’s a wide-open road ahead of you now; follow the road to your dreams.

TIP # 2
Your first job is finding a job.
If you aren’t working, technically you are unemployed, but theoretically, you do have a job; your job is to find a job. Whether you
realize it or not, you are now self-employed; you’ve got a job to do,
but there’s no time clock you need to punch or supervisor you must
report to. You’re free to begin and end your day as early or as late
as you choose and are responsible for setting your goals and tracking your progress. You can put as much or as little effort into your
job search as you want, because the only person you have to answer
to is yourself. Your success (or lack of it) is up to you, and if things

don’t go well, there’s no one to blame but yourself.
Think of your job search as one of your first entrepreneurial
experiences. You are about to begin an adventure in which you’ll
experience good days and bad days, highs and lows, and ups and
downs. Your moods are likely to fluctuate, and your feelings of
exuberance, empowerment, and excitement will probably be
intertwined with feelings of rejection, loneliness, and, at times,


Work Skills╇╇ 7

desperation. You will fail before you succeed, and there will be
times you’ll feel like giving up. But you won’t give up. You know
you need a job to live the life you choose, so you’ll reassure yourself that what you are experiencing is normal; considering that
the length of the average job search spans months, not weeks, you
will remind yourself that finding a job takes time. It won’t take
long before your enthusiasm to find a job returns and you are
inspired once again to pursue your dreams.
Anything worth having in life is worth pursuing, and to have a
job you’ll look forward to each day, you’ll need to work hard to
find it. The secret to a successful job search is to take it seriously
and treat it like a job by devoting a significant amount of time to
it each day.
You’ll need to create a work area devoted to your job search
“business.” Your ideal office should include a desk, chair, telephone, answering machine, fax machine, printer, planning calendar, computer, and Internet connection. If you don’t have all of
the equipment you need, find a resource to use; don’t be shy
about asking family and friends or using the school resource center. You will be most effective when you are organized and prepared. Make sure you have plenty of working pens and pencils,
pads of paper, file folders, copies of your resume, and letters of
reference on hand at all times.
Because you are your own boss, you can work whatever hours

you want, but since you need to connect with potential employers, you’d be wise to work during regular business hours. Go to
bed at a reasonable hour and set your alarm clock to wake you in
the morning. When your workday begins, turn off the television,
stereo, and instant messaging, and minimize your time spent on
the phone or in person with friends during business hours.
During your temporary job search career, work on developing
new skills and good work habits. Whether you have meetings
scheduled for the day or not, get out of your pajamas in the morning and get dressed for work. It will be much easier for you to take


8╇╇ 101 Tips for Graduates

yourself and your business seriously and will improve your
chances of sounding professional over the phone if you look and
feel as though you are a professional businessperson.
There are many ways to go about finding a job; use a variety of
resources. Don’t hesitate to call a company you want to work for to
request an informational interview. Every day, you should generate
new leads for yourself and make new contacts. Tell everyone you
know you are looking for work, but never rely on anyone else to get
you a job; it’s your job to find work and no one can do it for you.
When you find yourself waiting for the phone to ring, pick it up
and make a call, then another and another. While you never want
to become a pest to anyone, you must pursue the job you want and
set yourself apart from others who are vying for the same position.
When you treat looking for a job like a job, before you know it,
you will have a real job to go to every day. And if you work hard
at getting the job you want, chances are you’ll land a job you
really like. It’s worth the extra effort.

Tip # 3
Add a dose of realism to your optimism; know the
realities of a job search.
Kim left a voice message that caught my attention. She was frustrated with her lack of progress in her search for a job and was
reaching out to me for guidance. She said she started out optimistically just three months prior after reading my book, How to Get
a Job and Keep It. She was doing the things I suggested, but was
feeling sad and confused because as she put it, no one was hiring.
The next day I returned her call.
At first, she didn’t realize who I was, but when I reminded her
that she left me a message about her struggle with her job
search, she became ecstatic. She repeatedly told me how surprised she was that I actually called her back. I told her I do not
typically offer personal advice over the phone, but because she